AG nominee Loretta Lynch tells senators she disagrees with President Obama on marijuana

President Obama's nominee to replace Eric Holder as Attorney General, Loretta Lynch,  testified today before the Senate Judiciary Committee in her confirmation hearing.

From what I saw of it, she should be confirmed.   She was confident but not cocky.   She answered questions clearly and responsively, without backing down when a conservative senator grilled her on their disagreement.

She also did not shrink from distancing herself from Holder or the president when she genuinely disagreed with their positions.

For example, on the subject of legalization of marijuana, she clearly stated that she does not favor legalization.   Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) referred to a New Yorker profile where
President Obama discussed his views, calling pot "a bad habit and a vice" and likened it to his old cigarette habit.  "I don't think it is more dangerous than alcohol," he was quoted as saying.

Sessions asked Lynch if she agreed, she replied, "Senator, I do not. . . . I certainly don't hold that view and don't agree with that view of marijuana as a substance. . . .  I think the president was speaking from his personal experience and personal opinion, neither of which I'm able to share. But I can tell you that not only do I not support legalization of marijuana, it is not the position of the Department of Justice currently to support legalization, nor would it be the position if I were confirmed as attorney general." 

 In response to other questions about the president's policy on immigration, she sided with the president and said that she found the legal basis for his policy on deportation to be well reasoned.

By all indications, this is a very smart, dedicated, principled U. S. attorney and an experienced prosecutor who would be independent enough to disagree with -- and to say "no" to -- the president of the United States.   That is what we need in an Attorney General.

This is the opposite of what George W. Bush wanted, and had, in Alberto Gonzalez as Attorney General.   Rather than disagree, he gave Bush what he wanted in aiding and abetting the Iraq war.

Loretta Lynch should be confirmed.   She promises to be a very worthy successor to AG Holder.

Ralph